It’s always tempting to escape to Ojai. The relaxed community is less than two hours from L.A., but its blissful culture and poignant pink sunsets make you feel oceans away. This year, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa gives you a few more reasons to make the trek up the 101. Their fine dining restaurant, Olivella and Vine is featuring an intimate monthly wine dinner series where Chef Andrea Rodella prepares decadent tasting menus paired with featured wines from Napa, Italy, Texas and beyond.
In March, Chef Andrea pairs a five-course menu with dishes like crudo of Pacific yellowtail with cherry tomato coulis, mozzarella, eggplant and osetra caviar; seared red prawns over sweet corn puree, green asparagus salad and black truffles; hand-cut tagliatelle with duck ragout; and roasted spring lamb chop with warm pea “panzanella,” with a selection of Scribe Winery wines from Sonoma ($175, inclusive of canapés and wine pairings).
April brings vintages from ultra-premium Napa winery, Arietta. The winery specializes in limited production Bordeaux-style blends, which will be paired with courses like seared rare Shetland Island salmon with yellow squash puree; housemade orecchiette with braised oxtail ragu and shaved fennel; Kurobuta pork tenderloin with morels, wild ramps, spring peas and sweet corn; Snake River Farms filet Mignon with lees mashed potato and roasted baby carrots ($195, inclusive of canapés and wine pairings).
The schedule for the rest of 2016 is as follows:
March 24. Scribe.,$175
April 21. Arietta, $195
May 5. Gaja, $325
June 9. Siduri, $175
July 21. Brewer Clifton, $175
Aug. 4. Sassicaia, $325
Sept. TBD
Oct. 20. Ornellaia, $325
Nov. Opus One, $350
Dec. Dom Perignon, $395
Tax, gratuity and additional beverages not included for the dinners. Reservations required, contact: 805.646.1111 x 6109
Olivella and Vine, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Rd., Ojai. ojairesort.com